2014

Oops!
It's been a couple months {three} since I have blogged on here.
Apparently, starting this new year for me has been like starting a lawn mower that hasn't been used for a couple seasons.
Give it a few pulls {weeks}, and I will finally get moving {motivated} though.

December went by incredibly fast.
We spent the first week in the Wisconsin Dells at Kalahari Resorts.
{An all time favorite for this family. And an annual trip that started last year.}
Where water is in abundant supply.
And there is much to do.
We actually ended up staying an extra night in our two bedroom {complimentary upgraded} suite this year.
We rode down slippery slides, relaxed in an outdoor hot tub, teamed up for fast moving raft rides through water filled tunnels {Nolan and I actually tipped out of ours because it was so fast and we ended up hitting our heads on the side. Which did NOT make Nolan happy, and I was blamed for the occurrence for a good hour afterward...}, and swam in the wave pool.
Enjoyed mojito's poolside, ate at a delicious steakhouse, played {arcade} games late into the night, and even rode the Ferris wheel they have!
It is a place that I don't think we will grow out of any time soon, and look forward to our spring trip to the Ohio location soon.

Sadly, we also lost my husband's sister in December. And have been overwhelmed with grief by her passing. Somehow, I still haven't come to terms with the fact that she is really gone. And I know my husband hasn't either.
Her funeral was very emotional for both of us.
It pains us both so much to know that we will never see or hear her again.
It is a bitter reminder to always tell those that you love no matter the circumstance or distance between you, that you love them. Out loud. And often.
The last time I talked to her was on Thanksgiving day, she held Nash for the first time since he was born. And she was in high spirits. Talked about going Black Friday shopping and getting her kids some $4 pajamas at Wal-Mart.
Her passing was unexpected, and something no one is ever prepared to face.
We miss you Seleste, but have hope that one day we will see you again.
May you rest in peace until that day.


Christmas this year seemed to come quickly. Probably because I didn't have much time to shop, and because Thanksgiving was so late.
But as quickly as it came, it also went.
I didn't even get to put the picture ornaments for 2012 on the tree {I use the picture of my kids from the previous Christmas to put in that years ornament and then put it on the next years tree... if that makes sense}.
Although this year was bittersweet, we still had a nice Christmas. Very blessed to have family to share it with.
My Sweet got me a new iPhone and Tablet. {yes, I entered this decade for electronics... finally}
I am currently obsessed with Instagram on my phone {apologize in advance for the overwhelming amount of pictures I will upload to Facebook this year}, and playing Papa Pear Saga. As if I need another reason not to do the laundry, right?


And then, just like that we were celebrating the New Year. We stayed in this year, and oddly, all four of the littles made it past midnight.  We made an {eclectic} spread of handmade organic meatballs, buffalo wings, king crab legs, and queso/chips.
We popped our party poppers after the ball dropped and promptly hit the hay. All of us.


The day after New Years Day, we headed up north for our first ski trip as a family.
My mom, two {younger} brothers, and my brothers girlfriend also went.
Our car was stuffed full of ski gear, a couple changes of clothes, and Nash's favorite source of entertainment... his exersaucer/bouncer. It was quite the cozy five and a half hour ride up.
We have been up to Boyne Highlands a number of times before with friends, but this was the first time we would get the kids on the slopes. And we were excited!
The first night we arrived, My Sweet and I hit the slopes for a shotgun ski run. We were only out there for about an hour and forty minutes before the lift closed.
But it was everything I remembered.
And cold.


While the kids didn't exactly ski down on their own by the end of the trip, I think overall it was a good first experience for them. Learning to snowplow and ride the chair lift were a couple things they started to master. And like I always say {for just about everything}, you have to start somewhere...
Nolan and I got the opportunity to ski together by ourselves for a couple hours on Saturday before we left. And I really enjoyed the time I got to spend with just him. He definitely has a gentle, older spirit about him. We conversed like he was about five years older than he really is, the entire time. Never pressed for something to say to one another. Just fluid. Free talking. And I loved that.
He is a genuine, kind hearted little gentleman.

We spent two of the nights in the pool sized hot tub. Something the kids especially loved.
Nevaly has never really swam without the help of a life jacket, until this trip. And within the two days we were in the hot tub she was under water kicking her little legs and moving her arms... swimming like a little fish. She amazed me how fast she learned to move herself through the water, and how long she could hold her breath to get to the ledge. {freaking me out only every other time}
She kept saying, "can I swim to you? can I swim to you?" and then after she swam to me, she would immediately say, "can I swim back now?"
Can't wait to see what she does at the pool and the lake next summer!

We left Saturday to come home just before Snowmageddon started Sunday.
I can't say I wasn't thankful we did end up leaving Saturday {we actually contemplated leaving Sunday so we could ski a little more} because I would have been a nervous wreck driving back in that blizzard otherwise.
I already bite my nails, I can't imagine what would have been left of my fingers!

We got to play in the snow a little Sunday before the frigid air rolled in. My Sweet and I even threw some snowballs {at the children}! And had a good old fashioned wrestle with a little snow piling in the face for fun!
Nash was outside for about five minutes in a full snow baby suit before I took him back in. He didn't mind the cold, and actually enjoyed the falling snowflakes. Catching them on his tongue!

I would like to say we accomplished much being snowed in these last four days together, but, well... I just took down the Christmas tree and decor today whilst my Sweet went back to work for a couple hours.

I like winter. I do.
I am a January baby {along with our Nutty} and have always had this inner sync with being content in cold temperatures. Aside from being a homebody for like three straight months. It provides ample time to just be with each other.
And it is something I am looking forward to. Very much.

Winter is where I jump start my cooking/baking obsession. In the last week alone I have gone through an entire bag of flour, a pound and a half of butter! Forget the milk and bread in a winter storm, I must have butter!!!

We are integrating every aspect of organic living as possible in 2014. I have already switched our toothpaste again from flouride free to being absolutely chemical free. And I plan to do the same with my deodorant very soon as well.

Anyways, there is my {very long winded} update.

I hope the new year is finding you all well!

XO,